My dear Parishioners, Family and Friends!

Once again we approach the events of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, - It is ours as well! Enclosed, please find the Schedule of Great and Holy Week Services here at St. Elias. For those of you who will be away, DVD’s of Great Friday and Easter Sunday are available. Please call.

Regarding Holy Confession: I expect to have a priest available in the right and left transept.

Regarding Blessing of Easter Baskets: Once only, after Liturgy Sunday. We begin at 5:30!

Finally. this, adapted from Fr. Anthony Coniaris:

“At Easter we celebrate the solution of the greatest problem man faces: Death.

If there is only death, our loved ones who have fallen asleep have perished.

If there is only death, we have no hope.

If there is only death, love stops with death….”

But for us Christians, after death, there is resurrection! We experience it every time we relive not only Christ’s death, but also His Resurrection - at Pascha! I invite you to do so once again.

Until the Feast!

Mitrophoric Archpriest Roman Galadza, Pastor

Schedule of Services Holy Week + Pascha

April 10, 11, 12 - Holy and Great Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

8 a.m. (each morning) - Bridegroom Matins

5 p.m. (each evening) - Presanctified Liturgy

April 13 – Великий Четвер - Holy and Great Thursday

The Last Supper and the Betrayal of Judas.

8 a.m. - Matins

5 p.m. Vespers with Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

8 p.m. – Страсті - Matins of the Passion – Twelve Passion Gospels

April 14 – Велика Пятниця - Great and Holy Friday

Christ dies in our place.

8:00 a.m. - Royal Hours

6 p.m. - Vespers of Entombment

The Death and Burial of our Lord, Jesus Christ

9 p.m. - Jerusalem Matins

Prayers at the Grave – The Wake Service – in English only Procession with the Plashchanytsia through the Cemetery

April 15 – Велика Субота - Great and Holy Saturday

9:00 a.m. – Єрусалимська Утреня

Наша Молитва перед Ісусом, що в Гробі. Українською Мовою.

4:00 p.m. - Vespers with Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

Confessions during all weekday services – Not on Pascha!

April 16th ПАСХА - PASCHA – ВОСКРEСEННЯ - RESURRECTION

Doors open at 5 a.m. for final visit to the Tomb.

5:30 a.m. – Надгробне - Removal of Burial Shroud - Plashchanytsia

6:00 a.m. – Procession and Resurrection Matins

Resurrection Matins ends with Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom

Then, the Divine Liturgy, followed with outdoor Blessing of Paschal Food.

7:00 p.m. – Agape Vespers

The perfect ending to the perfect day!

A FEW Very IMPORTANT GUIDELINES:

Park safely in the parking lot. Come early and it won't be a problem. If the lot is full DO NOT park illegally. Parking is permitted on Heritage Rd.

NO parking on driveways and lanes. It is strictly PROHIBITED. If your car is parked in these areas you may be towed or worse, run over by emergency vehicles. You've been warned.

Accessible Parking will be in the first 2 rows of the lot- and a few spots beyond the drop off. Look for signs.

Children under 12 must be supervised by a responsible adult - at all times. There are many hazards on the property including high water levels at the pond. Wandering children will be instructed to return to their caregiver.

Blessing of Paschal foods - follow the directions of our volunteers and use only the marked areas. The courtyard must remain clear for those exiting the church.

Donations for the needs of the church will be gratefully collected during the service, in the donation box at the entrance and during the blessing of food. If in any way you were touched by this weeks services we ask that you consider an extra offering to supplement what our parishioners support every week. Your generosity helps us with the many expenses of the parish and this weekend. We thank you.